Josh Scobee Contract Parameters Should Be Set By Market

The Jacksonville Jaguars and Josh Scobee decided to resume contract negotiations on Wednesday. Previously, the two sides had been silent for a few months, but now that the two are talking contract again they can move forward and work towards a long term deal. The question now becomes how much will the Jaguars sign Scobee up for?

The parameters for a deal should be in place, given the recent market for kickers. The only wrench in the gears of the negotiations appears to be the contract for Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Connor Barth. Barth signed a four-year, $13.2 million deal with $4 million guaranteed, but Barth does not handle kick off duties for the Bucs. Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater also recently signed a deal for four-years, $13 million with $4.25 million guaranteed.

The framework appears to be set for a Josh Scobee deal, but the guaranteed money is going to be the tricky part. Like Prater, one of Scobee's biggest assets is his strong leg which makes him a "weapon" (for lack of a better word) on kickoffs. It also has lent the Jaguars to some late game long field goals, all without the benefit of the thin air in Mile High. For all intents and purposes, Scobee is a more accomplished kicker than Prater and will likely get just a nudge more in guaranteed money.